January

Wednesday 1. January 1817
This being the anniversary of my taking charge of the Government of this Colony – having now administered the same for Seven Years Complete — We had a Select Party of Friends (as Pr. List) to dine with us at Parramatta in honor of the occasion. —

L. M.

Sunday 12. Jany. !
This day Nurragingy (als. Creek Jemmy) the Chief of the South Creek, and Mary-Mary the Chief of the Mulgowy – Natives – with their respective Tribes amounting to 51 (men, women & children) Persons, paid me a visit at Parramatta – and were entertained in the Govt. Domain there by direction of Mrs. Macquarie with Breakfast and Dinner this Day; the 17 Native Children at the Institution having also been entertained with Fruit and presented to their Parents & Relatives belonging to those two Tribes. — Narrang Jack, one of the hostile Natives some time outlawed, came in on this occasion and gave himself up – to take the benefit of the last Proclamation. —

L. M.

Tuesday 14. Jany. !
This Day I drew a Draft on the Police Fund in favor of Mrs. Shelly (– Pr. Mr. Hassall–) for Forty Pounds Sterling on account of the Native Institution at Parramatta – under her direction. —

L. M.

Wedy. 15 Jany. 1817 !
I this day signed a Draft, dated 13th. Inst., drawn on the Police Fund, in favor of Mr. Wm. Watkins Stone Mason, for One Hundred Pounds Sterling (£100), in part payment of his Contract for repairing the Jail at Parramatta, being his 1st. Instalment. —

L. M.

Thursdy. 16. Jany. !
I Drew a Draft of this day's date on the Police Fund for the Salary of Mr. Joshua Jno. Moore, Clerk to Mr. Judge Advocate Wylde, from 1st. March (date of his appointment in England) up to 10th. of Octr. 1816 inclusive (– when his Salary becomes payable by the Depy. Comy. Genl. agreeably to the Parliamentary Estimate – in succession to the late Clerk Mr. Foster –) at the rate of Eighty Pounds Sterling per annum. —

L. M.

I also drew a Draft of this day's date on the Police Fund, in favor of Messrs. Wm. Obrian & Michl. Parker, Fence–makers, for the sum of Sixty Seven Pounds and Five Shillings Sterling; being the Balance due to them for Constructing a 4 Railed Fence round a Govt. large Paddock at Parramatta for receiving and issuing the Government Cattle at; this being a conclusive & final Payment. —

L. M.

Saturday 18. Jany. 1817 !
This being the anniversary of our gracious good Queen's Birth–Day (– when she completes her Seventy third year ! –), the same was kept as a Holiday throughout the Territory – with the usual respectful Demonstrations of Joy. — I held a Public Levee at the Government House, and entertained all the principal Ladies and Gentlemen of the Colony at a Ball and Supper in the Evening; 115 Persons having sat down to Supper – but 155 had been invited. — A beautiful Temple of Hymen, with Transparent Lights, was erected under the taste and direction of Mrs. Macquarie on the Lawn in front of Government House, which was lighted up after it became dark, in honor of the recent marriage of the Princess Charlotte of Wales to the Prince of Sax Coburg.
N.B. Mrs. M. and myself went down to Sydney early on Saturday morning – and returned again to Parramatta on Sunday morning. —

L. M.

Monday 20 Jany. !
Drew a Draft of this day's date on the Police Fund, in favor of Mr. Jas. Smith, Contractor for erecting the Parsonage House & Offices at Parramatta, in part payment and as the 3d. Instalment of said Contract, the Sum of Five Hundred (£500) Pounds Sterling. —

L. M.

Wednesday 22 Jany. 1817 !
This Evening, H. M. Colonial Brig Kangaroo, Commanded by Lieut. Jeffreys, anchored in Sydney Cove in 5 Days from the Derwent – for which Station She had had sailed from Port Jackson on Wednesday the 18th. of last month. —

L. M.

Friday 24 Jany. !!!
I sent Orders this day – through the Secretary to Government – to Lieut. Jeffreys, to prepare the Brig Kangaroo, with all practicable haste, for proceeding to England with Public Dispatches of importance for His Majesty's Ministers.

L. M.

Monday 27. Jany. !
I went this morning in the Carriage accompanied by Mrs. M. & Lt. Watts, to Liverpool, to inspect the Govt. Buildings in progress there; Breakfasting at Mr. Moore's, and returning to Parramatta by 12,O'Clock at Noon. —

L. M.

Wedy. 29. Jany. !
Set out from Parramatta, accompanied by Mrs. Macquarie & Family, in the Govt. Barge at Half past Six OClock this morning, and arrived at Sydney at a quarter before 9,O'Clock; having been only Two Hours and a quarter on the Water making this Passage of 16 miles !

I sent for and spoke to Lieut. Jeffreys the Comr. of the Kangaroo Govt. Brig this day, to know how soon he could be ready with his Vessel to Proceed to England – and he reports to me, that, he shall be able to sail in a month hence at farthest, in case he can get the assistance he has required from the Govt. Public Departments here – which I have promised to give him. — I have ordered Lt. Jeffreys not to engage to take any Passengers Home but such as may have my permission, it being my intention, in pursuance of Orders received from the Secry. of State – to send Home in the Kangaroo as many Persons as she can conveniently accommodate who have lately become free by their Sentences of Transportation having expired. —

L. M.

Friday 31. Jany. !
This day I sent off George Hubbard, Boat Builder, and John Dwyer his assistant, to the River Lachlan, for the purpose of building Boats there for the intended Expedition of Discovery to the Westward !

L. M.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Diary 10 April 1816 – 1 July 1818.
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A773 pp.79–83. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #313–317].